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most acceptable, and having lighted my cigarro de papel,* I hastened to the corral,† in order to catch a favourite Chiliant which I generally rode.

My friend's best lazo§ was in requisition, and I astonished myself and two of the natives, by noosing my Bucephalus at the first throw. They expressed so much admiration of my new recado || and its silver appendages, that I thought it prudent to decline their eager offers of escorting me to the Pueblo. Having mounted my fleet colorado, ¶ I cantered along, gazing with rapture on the beauty of the rising sun. It was a heavenly morning; the green and gold of the orange and citron groves, spangled with diamond dew-drops; the acacia's silvery flowers and sensitive leaves expanding to the sunbeams, and the bright delusion of the distant mirage, lent their varied attractions to the scene. Myriads of horned cattle, sheep and horses, just emancipated from their corrals, were moving in speckled array along the luxuriant pasture land which environed the city. The Biscachos ** were all in motion in search of their morning repast, and here and there a majestic ostrich in full speed crossed my path.

Proceeding onward amid this prodigal display of Nature's bounty, I arrived at a small village, distant one league from the capital. To my great surprise, I observed about 600 Guachos ++ assembled at this place, and a well-known democrat, (with whom I was slightly acquainted,) haranguing them in the most vehement manner. I rode up and saluted them, and was soon informed that they were determined to effect a change in the Government, and were about to surprise the capital: I was also given to understand that I must either remain where I was, or join in their expedition. Being naturally fond of mischief, and having a dislike to the existing Governor, I chose the latter alternative, and having briefly arranged our plan of operations, we set off at full gallop to try the fortune of war. Each Guacho was to receive three doubloons when the revolution was accomplished, and all were in high spirits. A case of pistols, which I possessed, were the only fire-arms amongst us, the other weapons consisting of lances, swords, daggers, and the favourite lazo.

The possession of the money-chest, which was deposited in the Treasury, was the first object to be obtained, and for this purpose, some of the martial peasantry were dismounted, and advancing under the command of their leader's brother, with the greatest secrecy and order, easily overpowered the few sentries posted on that building, and effecting an entrance, barricadoed the doors, while we proceeded, without obstruction, to the Grand Plaza,‡‡ where the Governor's house and the principal public offices are situated.

Paper cigar (Spanish): it is composed of Brazilian or block tobacco, rolled in paper, or in the leaf of the Indian corn.

The corral is a large enclosure, formed with stakes driven into the ground, into which cattle are turned at nightfall.

The horses of Chile are more esteemed than any others in South America; they are more hardy and better bred.

§ This singular noose is made of the twisted entrails of oxen. It is fastened by a ring to the saddle, and the natives throw it with such dexterity, as to make sure of their aim at a considerable distance: it is used to capture men as well as cattle, and with its aid I have known the peasantry carry off light pieces of ordnance.

The recado is a most useful saddle; the materials composing it form your bed:

it is very expensive, a handsome one costing from 40l. to 50l.

Bay colour (Spanish). It is the custom in this country to address one another

by the colour of their horse, as "Sir of the White Horse," &c.

A species of rabbit: they are very destructive, and burrow to such an extent, that riding in their neighbourhood is attended with considerable danger.

tt The peasantry of a large portion of South America are called Guachos or Guassos. They may be said to live on horseback.

The principal square, generally in the centre of the town, the streets branching off at right angles.

About 300 ragged infantry, having just got the alarm, were drawn up here in trembling array; we advanced within a few yards of them, and their commander walking up to our leader, commenced a parley, and if words were weapons, I believe he would have been victorious: a lucky, circumstance, however, speedily made us masters of the field of battle and the Government without bloodshed. By some accident, a pistol which I held in my hand, went off in the direction of the Colonel, and I was considerably alarmed at seeing him fall. Our Guachos thinking this the signal for attack, rode forward, but the gallant regulars observing their matchless leader hors de combat, ran away without making the least resistance, save a few, who threw down their arms and begged for quarter, which was readily granted them. In the mean time, the worthy Colonel continued to kick and plunge at a furious rate, crying out that he was mortally wounded, and entreating us to send for his wife and a surgeon. I carefully examined every part of his body, but could meet with no trace of the ball, and at length became fully convinced that his wound was only one of the imagination; but all my efforts to persuade him of his safety were in vain; I, however, induced him to swallow a little brandy, which I had in a case-bottle. This revived him a little; he stood up, felt himself all over, jumped, shouted, and coughed, to the infinite amusement of the Guachos, and he was beginning to think all was right, until one of them maliciously suggested that the ball had passed down his throat, which was wide open at the time: this, silly as it was, renewed his alarm, and his panic still continued, when his wife, a pretty young woman, arrived, making loud and evidently forced lamentations. She was accompanied by a fat priest, carrying the Host, and a Spanish quack-doctor, who commenced an unintelligible Latinized jargon, and was of opinion that as the ball had evidently lodged in the intestines, it would be necessary to extract it, which he proposed doing, but at the same time requested the priest to perform his office, as he could not answer for the Colonel's recovery from so difficult an operation.

The wounded hero was in a sad dilemma, but he resolutely refused to submit to the scalping knife of the ignorant empiric; and when urged by the priest to trust himself in the hands of God, he rather unceremoniously desired him to go to the devil. At length, having afforded us considerable amusement, he was conveyed to a room in the Cabildo,* where great numbers visited him, his existence being considered quite a miracle. We soon became masters of all the public offices, and a junta of the opposers of the former Administration being held, they declared the late Governor (who had fled on hearing the report of my pistol) deposed, and elected our leader in his stead, who retaining 100 Guachos as a body guard, paid and dismissed the remainder, and in three or four hours, every thing was as tranquil as if no change had occurred; indeed, during the whole affair, business received no interruption, and the new Governor attended the theatre in the evening amid the Vivas of the fickle citizens. My gallant exertions were celebrated in prose and verse, Cæsar's words Veni, Vidi, Vici, being most appropriately applied. My friend the Colonel became in a few days firmly attached to the new system, and attracted crowds to the Café he frequented, to listen to his exaggerated narrative of the events of the day, and his miraculous escape from the jaws of death. Thus ended, to use the expression of the natives, this Grand Revolution.

VERITAS.

It was formerly the seat of the Municipal Council, and is now converted into offices for the transaction of law business.

+ Viva is the Spanish acclamation of applause.

STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT PERIOD.

BY A FOREIGN OFFICER.

THE Asiatic hordes which towards the commencement of the fifth century inundated the vast plains of Russia, were, conformably to the exigencies of the time, divided into two classes; the one, destined to cultivate the conquered territory, the other, to defend it by force of arms. Hence, the origin of nobles and serfs. The most valiant or the most wealthy of these hands, speedily found means of engaging in their interests many of their brethren in arms, and by putting themselves at the head of such associations, they formed principalities. In the sequel, many of these principalities were united together by family connexions or the force of arms, till about the middle of the ninth century the majority of them became subject to the rule of a single government, of which Rurik was the first Czar.

The new vassals were not required to pay any other duties to their Sovereign than their personal services in case of war. During intestine commotions, the weakest party strengthened itself by arming the serfs, or by engaging freemen as stipendiary soldiers. Thence the origin of the militia, and of the recruiting service.

Of such forces was the Russian army still composed, even in the sixteenth century. It then consisted of five different classes, viz.—

1st, Of the higher nobility, (Princes, Knias,) who were exempt from the necessity of bearing arms in person, but who were obliged to furnish at their own expense a number of men, proportioned to the extent of their possessions.

2ndly, Of the sons of the petty nobles, (Bojars,) who were endowed with fiefs, and who in return were required to serve on horseback; thus forming the cavalry.

3rdly, Of the city nobles, who in their own districts held civil posts, or who in time of peace were engaged in commerce, and different branches of industry. In time of war, these demi-nobles, and demicitizens served under the command of their Mayor, (Golowa).

4thly, Of the nobility of Moscow, a part of whom performed garrison duty in the capital, whilst the rest were required to take the field.

5thly, Of the troops who were regularly fed and paid; such as the Asiatic hordes, the Baschkirs, Tartars, &c. and bands of individuals who had no settled habitations, no land or property, and who consequently received food and pay.

These various troops were armed with sabres, with bows and arrows, and with lances, fire-arms being unknown in Russia till towards the commencement of the sixteenth century. The services of the troops were required only during the war, at the conclusion of which they returned to their homes.

About the year 1554, the Czar Iwan Wassiliewitch Grosnvi, formed his serfs into the first body of regular and permanent troops known in Russia, and armed them with muskets. Hence, they received the name of Strelzi, which signifies fusileers or marksmen. A few years afterwards, the Russians were for the first time exposed to the fire of artillery, which was employed against them by Prince Witold of Lthuania, at the siege of Porchow, in the present government of Pskow. U. S. JOURN. No. 34. SEPT. 1831.

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Shortly afterwards, an Italian, (Aristotle of Bologna,) instructed them in the art of casting cannon, of which they first made use towards the close of the sixteenth century, at the siege of the fortress of Fellin, during the war in Livonia. At that period, some of the troops were armed with muskets, but the greater portion of them with lances and halberts. Their order of battle was similar to that practised at the present day. The army was divided into the centre, right and left flank, advanced-guard, rear-guard, corps of reserve, and detachments of light cavalry for extraordinary service. After the reign of the Czar Iwan Wassiliewitsch Grosnvi, a body of regular and permanent cavalry was also formed.

The most rapid progress towards the organization and instruction of the army, was made at the commencement of the seventeenth century by the Czar Alexei Michailowitsch, who engaged a number of foreign officers to discipline the Russians, and by whose orders a work of standard regulations for military exercise and movements was composed in the Russian language, on the model of similar foreign treatises.

In the year 1656, the Russian army was composed of 9000 men, commanded by foreign officers, and regularly organized and disciplined according to the system adopted by other European troops. The number of the regular forces was afterwards augmented by Peter the First, who during the war against the Turks, in the year 1696, raised twentynine new regiments, consisting nearly of 30,000 men. In the year 1707, the regular army consisted of fifty-six regiments of infantry and cavalry, and three regiments of guards, amounting altogether to 60,000 men. After the battle of Pultawa, the military force was again considerably increased, being, in the year 1710, composed of 50,000 infantry in the field, 28,000 cavalry, 56,000 men in garrison, and a detached corps of 15,000 men, destined to protect the frontiers of the Northern Provinces which had been newly conquered. From this statement it will be seen, that in the above-mentioned year the Russian army was 149,000 strong, the artillery and engineers not included. About the middle of the eighteenth century, the Russian army was increased to 164,000 men; in the year 1771, to 198,000 men; and in 1794, the whole of the troops of the line amounted to 313,000, the troops in garrison to 60,000, and the irregular forces, such as the Cossacks, Bashkirs, Kalmucks, &c. to 70,000 men. The troops of the line consisted of 204,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, and 29,000 artillery. At the end of the year 1803, the following was the strength of the Russian army.

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MEN.

9,305 219,125

70,884 MEN.

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Total strength of the army 508,457.

The Russian army is now recruited, every three or six years, from the peasantry, and from the inferior classes of the citizens. The men drawn for military service are generally in the proportion of one, or two, to five hundred. But as there are no fixed laws on this subject, the Autocrat often orders arbitrary levies, which in urgent cases are made in the proportion of five or ten men to five hundred. Let us now estimate the entire population of Russia, at fifty millions; if from this number we deduct that of the females, (who may be supposed to form one half of the population,) as also five millions of subjects exempt from military service, we shall find a remainder of twenty millions, who, in the proportion of from one to ten for each five hundred, would furnish from 40,000 to 400,000 recruits. The above calculation, however, is far from exact. It may be affirmed as a positive fact, that all the registered lists of the population of the empire are false; and that the number of the inhabitants of Russia is far more considerable than that usually set forth. The motive for this deception may be thus briefly stated. All the peasants, as well as the lower classes of the citizens, are required to pay a poll-tax, the collectors of which are guided solely by the registers. It is impossible for the Isprawnik (the functionary who presides over the administration of each district,) to exist on the scanty emoluments of his place; he therefore, in most cases, has an understanding with the proprietors or land-owners, who underrate the number of their peasants in order to avoid paying a large portion of the tax. The superior Employés, who are in general extremely corrupt, connive at the fraud; consequently, we incur but little hazard of adopting an opinion at variance with the fact, if we conclude that the population of Russia amounts in reality to one sixth more than the estimate given in the registers.

But even if we admit the accuracy of the former calculation, we must arrive at the conclusion that the Russian army, regularly recruited in the considerable proportion already stated, is able to take the field with a force of 5 or 600,000 men. From what circumstance then does it arise, that the Russians never take the field with more than 100 or 150,000 men? The following detail may be given in explanation.

In the first place, it may be mentioned, that every recruit is regarded as lost to his family and friends; from the moment that he quits the home which he is destined never to revisit, his relatives mourn for him, as for one consigned to the grave. For this reason, in the villages the worst characters are selected-debauchees, men of shattered constitutions, and, not unfrequently, invalids afflicted with every species of infirmity. These recruits are conducted to the capitals of governments, and according to the regulations, ought to be clothed, and furnished with a certain sum of money. The officers on whom devolves the task of receiving them and examining their condition, have an understanding with the officers charged to escort them to the different regiments. It frequently happens, that such recruits are not even seen by their respective corps; so that, in fact, the enrolment consists simply in the exchange of money for receipts. When on the occasion of an inspection, a regiment is found deficient in the prescribed number of men, the physician, whose experience in such matters is not inferior to that of his coadjutors in the traffic, never

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